PART: III -The Events of That Deadly Day & The Trial December 5, 1943- Sunday-

The day started as most with chores at the Kendrick Farm. James and Nookie had spent the night at the chicken farm, as it seems Alice and James were having a disagreement. Around mid morning James picked up Bertha, the cook, to drive her to her home and Nookie walked from the Kendrick farm to the Rock House to play with Denyse. It was said by some, Nookie was sent to retrieve the papers on a Police dog he was given the year prior and he wished to sell. The papers were to be found, in a desk drawer, in the house where James had left them. All in All, when Alice (said to be drinking) found that Nookie was there; she told him Denyse didn't need anyone to play with and for him to go away. She told Nookie if he ever set foot there again she would kill him!

A little later, Denyse was called in for lunch; Nookie was outside on the swing reading funny books along with two of his dogs. Denyse ask Alice to please let Nookie come in and eat lunch, as he was hungry. Alice finally agreed and Denyse called Nookie to come in and eat. After lunch, ( it is said) Nookie ask Alice about the papers on the Police dog he wanted. She said James already had took the papers when they left and no they are not in the desk drawer. There was an altercation in the kitchen between Nookie and Alice that Denyse witnessed. Alice was fussing at Nookie and became angry because she felt he was not listening to her. Alice threw a glass at Nookie, he then ran from the kitchen and out the door! The specifics of the argument between the two were not clear. Denyse says that Alice was always on Nookie about one thing or the other.

(RESEARCH FACT: on March 31,1943, Nookie Kendrick was charged with burglary in Meriwether County of a grist mill and business of Dave Smith, wherein valuable goods, wares and product were contained and stored; personal goods of the said Dave Smith. Nookie was found Guilty on May 26,1943 in Superior Court and sentenced to the chain gang, in the public work camp for 12 months. The Burglary got reduced to a Misdemeanor and sentence suspended during good behavior.?? Maybe, This is why Alice didn't trust Nookie and they squabbled!)

Nookie is said to have gone back to the chicken farm after the altercation. A short time later, Nookie and his dogs were seen crossing the lake dam toward the Rock House by Maidee Willingham as she sat on the front porch of the house across the road from the Rock House and lakes. Unknown to those at the Rock House, Nookie had returned!

Shortly after lunch, Denyse and her friends Martha Brown and Julia Willingham were in the yard at the Rock House playing. Denyse was bragging to her friends saying she had been taken hunting by her older sister, Edna and was taught to shoot the 22 cal. rifle. When challenged by her friends, Denyse asked Alice if she could shoot the 22 rifle to prove to her friends she did know how to fire the rifle. Alice clamed that they were low in 22 cal. bullets and she didn't need to waste them. A persistent Denyse finally convinced her mother and Alice got the weapon from the closet and one bullet. Somewhere around 2:30 in the afternoon, Alice, Denyse and her two friends step out on the back stoop of the Rock House and Denyse fires the 22 cal. rifle towards the woods in the yard. Alice takes the rifle and places it back in the closet as Denyse's friends are now convinced she can fire the rifle. Nookie's whereabouts were at that time unknown!

Shortly, after shooting the rifle Denyse and her friends went across the road to Julia Willinghams home to play. Sometime later, around 3:30 to 4:00 pm, Denyse's playmates walk her to the base of the driveway at the Rock House; Denyse returns home alone. Soon after returning home, Denyse see's Nookie's dogs near the bushes not far from the back stoop. She walks over and see's Nookie lying on the ground. Denyse goes over to him and trys to get him to speak; she even gets water in her RC bottle and sprinkles his face. Nookie doesn't respond. James Christian Kendrick Jr. is dead December 5th, 1943!! The Sheriff and Coroner are called.

Read Part IV: The Inquest and Trial